Backlash to the backlash

To the Editor:Pure and simple solution to “boycott Black Dog.” Boycott those who support “boycott the Black Dog.” Do not “serve” these elitists when they come into your business. Snub them. Enough said.

Dr. David RobinsonNew Bedford

33 COMMENTS

I think it’s safe to assume anyone buying anything at the Black Dog doesn’t support the boycott. Or are you suggesting all other restaurants ask customers if they’re in that restaurant because they’re boycotting the Black Dog? So if want to grab lunch at Woodlawn, I have to tell them my stance on local issues?

1. Snubbing people is elitist. 2. I would not call boycotting TBD elitist. That word is starting to lose meaning through misuse. People are rightfully concerned about our collective health. 3. 99% of the time, I hate to hear of Islanders gunning for someone to be fired or for a business to be avoided. This time, I somewhat understand it. The Douglases made a huge mistake in promoting something dangerous, then tried to feed us a faery story about why they did it. Just take accountability. Be sincere when apologizing. 4. I won’t be boycotting The Black Dog. The restaurant industry is in shambles. There are many dedicated workers at TBD who need their jobs. Who knows if employment will be available to them elsewhere when local places are struggling? The employees are completely innocent. Everyone is free to spend money where they wish, of course, but I hope they’ll at least consider the workers and their families. They will suffer most while the Douglases continue to play Gilligan on their boats.

I’m with Aquinnah on this one. Jamie Douglas’s Facebook post (which was taken down PDQ once anti-BD backlash started to develop) was reasonable in some ways and unsettling in others: some of its rhetoric (“Freedom and Liberty to Work” and “The cure can’t be worse than the disease”) echoed what’s been heard at protests elsewhere in the country that solid reporting has linked to right-wing organizations funded by big money. It’s no secret on the Vineyard that the Douglas family is wealthy and leans strongly Republican. This is not news. It does make the Black Dog an easy target for those who want to vent their frustration with the current administration’s horrific inability and/or unwillingness to deal with COVID-19 from the first reports of it last fall. COVID-19 is taking a terrible toll on the Vineyard and elsewhere. It’s almost certainly going to get worse before it gets better. Personally, I would feel much more sympathy with the protesters if they’d direct their anger at the administration that has exacerbated the pandemic at every step of the way, and if in their push to reopen businesses they would acknowledge that the line between the healthy and the vulnerable is alarmingly fluid. Even the scientists and health-care professionals can’t yet tell us who’s most at risk and why, although it’s clear that poverty and lack of access to health care are major factors. Thanks to the lack of testing, we don’t even know who has it or has had it. Targeting the Black Dog, or the Douglases, is scapegoating: picking an easy target that didn’t cause the problem, because it makes some people feel better and maybe you were pissed off at them already.

Mr. Robinson — it seems that you are advocating for local merchants to refuse service to those who think this demonstration was a bad idea. How would you recommend that merchants identify these people ? Would you suggest that merchants only serve those with maga hats or are waving flags around? I hope you understand the feelings about this, as this is literally a life and death issue. It’s not about lives in some distant country, or trying to stop a wanna be dictator from tweeting policy from his golden toilet and claiming “absolute” authority. It’s not even about the lives of our children and grandchildren in the not so distant future. It’s about life and death, right now, on our island. At least they didn’t bring their guns to this protest. I appreciated that.

I was wondering the same, Don. His simple solution sounds wicked complicated. How do we go about knowing who to snub? This is has all reached max silliness. Circular revenge is not going to solve problems. Maybe we should just look out for each other and realize that even if you dismiss all political issues surrounding the virus, there were still 15 pages of obituaries in a recent edition of The Boston Globe.

“…the administration that has exacerbated the pandemic at every step of the way…”

yet

“Even the scientists and health-care professionals can’t yet tell us who’s most at risk and why,..”

As hard as it is on those of us who play the constant blame game, possibly in search of status, we must put off the juvenile notion of Republicans vs Democrats in these times. We need to put our differences aside, for now. Come together, some how.

“In a way, blaming is form of social comparison that is status-seeking. If you blame someone, it puts you in the superior seat, making you feel more important and the ‘good’ person as opposed to their ‘bad’. “

We should quit trying to divide people even more, now. There will be plenty of time after this for the tired and continual blame (instead of solving) game. I feel another 4 years, at least (Ivanka?). Especially if the Democratic Party feels that: free license should be given to those who want to harass and get in the face of others who may feel and live differently (Republican and wealthy were referenced, just to enlighten/remind others!).

“It does make the Black Dog an easy target for those who want to vent their frustration with the current administration’s horrific inability and/or unwillingness to deal with COVID-19 from the first reports of it last fall…”). Really?!! Sad.

The post I’m referencing mocks the family and then tells others to let them be. Cute. I’m not fooled for a minute.

Barreled_sunshine, I couldn’t care less how much money someone does or does not have, unless it’s relevant to how that individual treats others. Here, I feel it is. TBD owners have made a fortune off of the Vineyard’s image and its hard workers. That’s fine. It’s good when businesses thrive, of course. But I’m bothered the people benefitting most from that success would endanger the community that helped build them up. It’s disrespectful. Thank goodness the public response kept more from showing up. Hoping it’s blown over and we won’t see further unnecessary gatherings during a pandemic.

Their call for a protest mentioned workers being stripped of dignity. How’s that? Because they need unemployment, which they paid into and deserve, or maybe assistance with food? It’s beyond condescending that a wealthy owner would call into question the dignity of those in a difficult financial situation. Especially in an effort to get them riled. Very manipulative. Wealthy or not, Republican or Democrat, this stunt was foolish.

Wasn’t being coy. I have no problem stating outright that I don’t care if the Douglases lose money due to their choices. Just don’t want the loss to trickle down to employees who have zero control over the situation. Folks are hurting enough. That’s why they still have my support.

I agree with some of what you say. One of the “Black Dog” references I made was when disagreeing with Susanna’s idea that it is ok to target someone’s business, simply because they have different political views. Insane.

“TBD owners have made a fortune off of the Vineyard’s image and its hard workers.”

As have quite a few businesses here! You keep mentioning their money. That is their business and you have no idea how well-off they, or anyone is. Looks can be deceiving. Talk is cheap.

In the post to Susanna, which I think you are “responding” to, I also did not appreciate the way she mocked the family and then told others to let them be.

A majority of my post was not about the Black Dog.You may be trying to get your message to others, through me/my post?

Barreled, I thought when you mentioned someone mocking the Douglases and their money, you may have been referring to my comment about sailing. Was trying to clarify, in case it was needed. Sorry if I misunderstood.

I am familiar with this family and the workings of their business. That’s what I am basing my impressions on. Your mileage may vary.

You noted they were called out for being wealthy and Republican. I was also trying to explain why, in this particular case, people may see the relevance of said wealth. Yes, there are other lucrative Island businesses, but the owners are not showing disrespect to our struggling community during a vulnerable period. If they were, they would be judged using the same standard, regardless of political party. Least by me.

I feel you’re right in saying no one deserves to be boycotted just for having some conservative or liberal values, but this went beyond that. Was not surprised to see it blow up.

I am familiar with the family as well. I am not familiar with the workings of their businesses. One would assume they are doing phenomenally. Not now, of course. So again, thank you.

I feel for all workers on this island right now.

“Yes, there are other lucrative Island businesses, but the owners are not showing disrespect to our struggling community during a vulnerable period. If they were, they would be judged using the same standard, regardless of political party.”

I know directly of one other lucrative island business who is showing more than disrespect for their workers/community.

I always make it a point to note the names of those that organize, promote, or publicly support the boycott of an island business. Especially if it’s another person engaged in the island economy. I question the judgement of someone that views a public call for financial harm to an island business as a reasonable response to speech that they disagree with. I personally choose not to do business with such people, based upon this lack of judgement. This is a small fishbowl that we live in, and these things tend to have unwelcome consequences.

I always make a point of noting the names of those who state their lack of concern for the health and safety of others, especially when it’s a person engaged in island economy. I question the judgement of someone who thinks they know more than medical experts as a reasonable response to disagree with the science of the stay-at-home requirements. I personally choose not to hire or do business with such people, based on their ignorance and selfishness. This is a small fishbowl we live in, and these things tend to have unwelcome consequences.

Do you ever make purchasing decisions based on your perceptions of your vendors politics? If a store that you had been as regular customer of put up a sign that said “Trump ‘makes negative pressure waves with his oral cavity'” would that be the last time you go to that store? Would you recommend the same to everyone you know? The name for that behaviour is called boycotting.

As soon as I get my all my TrumpBucks I am going to ‘donate’ $10 to his campaign. Trump Fauci 2020 (Pence does not know anything about epidemiology, Trump can be Fauci’s mentor if he has any questions about Covid – 19).